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The Question I Was Scared to Ask

Posted in Balanced Mind and Soul | August 25, 2010 | 17 Comments

  

This post was written by Anastasiya. Follow me on Twitter or StumbleUpon and keep your life balanced!

For a while now this topic has been boiling inside of me. This is probably one of the most controversial topics that you can talk about in the personal development niche. Let me get it out, “Do you believe in God?”

You do not have to answer me if you do not feel comfortable with it. I want to answer this question though because I feel that I need to be sincere with you, my readers, about what helps me find balance in my life. Let me tell you a story first.

I grew up in a country (Ukraine, if you have not read the About page) where strong religious beliefs were associated with fanatics and they actually gave most normal people the creeps (due to the many cults that have emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union). I was not comfortable talking about religion or even thinking about it.

At a certain point of my life I realized that something was wrong in my life. I was taking a path in life that I didn’t like. I was in a relationship that I was not happy with (actually I was scared of that relationship because it made me think about how miserable my life could be.) I didn’t know where to go and how to find courage to break through the barriers that were holding me back. I felt like I was trapped in misery and unhappiness.

At that time I decided that it was time to change something in my life. I felt the urge to pray and thank God for all the wonderful gifts that I had in my life (health, wonderful parents, and great friends.) I know that it might sound a little cheesy (this is what I would have thought if I read a story like that back then) but in a few months my life turned around completely.

I found a job that was exciting and that I was really good at. Even better, I met my future husband who interviewed me for that job. You can probably say that it was just a coincidence but what are the chances of meeting your second half from half-way around the globe who said that he would never marry a Ukrainian girl? I guess the chances are pretty slim unless there is some divine plan:-)

Ever since then my life has been going in a direction I could not even dream about. Whatever path I took – it was smooth and successful.
When my family moved to the US I was in for a big shock. Pretty much everything was different here from my native country. I experienced the biggest shock when my husband took me to a Baptist church on Sunday. I don’t think he had ever seen such a puzzled expression on my face (even when I found out that I was pregnant with twins!) I must confess that I was not comfortable going to that church and that is why we didn’t go there much afterwards.

About 6 months ago we finally moved to our current home. The Lord has led us to a location that is perfect for our family and that both my husband and I were dreaming about since we were kids. The best part about this place is that we have found a church that both my husband and I enjoy so much that we look forward to going there every Sunday. The reason why I like going to church now (something I was not comfortable with my entire life) is because I feel connected with the words of the pastor and with the people in this church. This feels like the perfect place for me right now.

How does my faith help me with life balance?

  • I know that I have a purpose in this world and I live to fulfill this purpose. I know that I will get all the help I need if I stick to the right path in life.
  • I know that I have strength to go through any hardships or difficulties in life. If I feel weak – I know Who I can ask for help.
  • Faith helped me get over selfishness and learn to live for others as well as for myself (how else could you explain me writing this blog without any financial reward?)
  • Faith opened my eyes to what a true marriage is and what it means to be good parent.
  • I learned gratitude and forgiveness.
  • I learned to resist temptations.
  • I learned to look for divine guidance in life and wait patiently. (Now I know that some things do not happen in life for a particular reason and this reason is often so amazing that you could not picture it even in your wildest dreams.)
  • Faith helps me to have an open mind and a generous heart.
  • Faith helps me be a person I won’t regret being at the end of my life.

Religion seems to be a forbidden place for an educated person nowadays (after all we have to believe in evolution, right?) However, do you know that about 40% of the US scientists are religious people? There is nothing wrong with believing in God and looking for logical explanations. Science is great at answering the question “how” but only religion can give you the answer to “why.” (Update: If you are interested to see the source of these claims, please scroll down to the bottom of the page and check out two interesting articles.)

Why are we here? What is our purpose? Where do we go afterwards?

Can science answer these questions? No. Can you?

I believe in God and I am not scared to admit it anymore. It does not mean that I will be preaching on this blog. I believe that it is a personal choice that each of us makes in life and I have made my choice. Have you?

No matter what your beliefs are, I hope that you will continue the journey towards life balance with me. Faith is my core belief that gets me through difficult times and temptations in life. What gives you strength and confidence in life? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Keep it balanced!

P.S. Here are two articles that talk about science and religion. These articles can explain some questions that you might have after reading this post:
Scientists Speak Up on Mix of God and Science
Evolution and Religion Can Coexist, Scientists Say

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Smart Thoughts (17)

  1. Fiona says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:36 am

    I actually find the concept of a “God” quite… absurd? Exceptionally difficult to get my head around.

    But each to his own I guess.

    Science, logic, and reason are good for me. They make sense. They’re not based on the illogical.

    Take care

    xx

  2. Steve Pye says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:43 am

    Thank you for this article: for what it’s worth, I have been following your blog entirely because I saw the evidence that you were seeking a balance in your life while also being a God-fearing person.

    It is precisely because you are able to express balance and faith together, that I was attracted to the tips and advice you offer, as I personally believe that the only real balance in life is through faith in God. Not everyone will necessarily agree with that, but that’s the nature of faith. Those who have it, often find it hard to explain. And those who don’t have it, find it hard to understand.

    Keep it up… you’re doing a good thing.

    • Anastasiya says:
      August 25, 2010 at 9:14 am

      Thanks you Steve for stopping by. I am glad that we have similar beliefs in life. I think that by living our best lives and showing a good example of what spiritual living is we can bring the most benefit into this world.

  3. Jean Sarauer says:
    August 25, 2010 at 8:06 am

    Thank you for sharing your faith with us. We are at a strange place in time, it seems, where some use religion to control or hurt others, yet so many who have true faith feel uncomfortable talking about it. Hopefully this post will contribute to people feeling safe to talk about their beliefs.

    I am deeply spiritual, with a strong faith, yet I have not felt comfort in church settings. There has been so much intolerance for others in the church where I was raised (Baptist) and in the many churches I’ve visited since. I am always happy for those who do find a church home they feel happy with though!

    • Anastasiya says:
      August 25, 2010 at 9:19 am

      Hi Jean,
      I truly understand you about churches. I had the same problem for most of my life. I think that a lot of churches get too corrupted nowadays. They care more about how much money they are going to get from their members than about their members’ lives and problems.
      I agree that if you cannot find a church where you feel at peace then there is no point in going. I personally feel the strongest connection when I go to the beach and watch the magnificence of the nature. I don’t think that even the smartest people on this planet could ever recreate something as beautiful and powerful.

      • Steve Pye says:
        August 25, 2010 at 9:38 am

        How true. It’s the same place King David, a “man after God’s own heart” found peace: in the wilderness, surrounded by nature, even when his enemies were closing in on him while he was there. He found balance there.

  4. Clearly Composed says:
    August 25, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    My relationship with The Source, Universe, Spirit, Love, Intention or God (the name really isn’t as important to me as the relationship) is the most important one I have regarding finding balance and grace in a world that can seem a bit chilly at times. Faith is the invisible cord that keeps me tapped into the Energy that shines brightly on us all. A lovely post in tribute to your faith. :)

  5. Taeg Seup Chung says:
    August 26, 2010 at 12:58 am

    Thank you for your articles with honest and bold testimony. I really enjoyed it and I am thinking of my life and His purpose for me. After I read your writing, I must be inspired.

    I feel grateful and awesome to see His guiding you to the best place, as it were “Balanced life” He already planned.
    I hope that you could have written good writings and share your creative and wise idea to us, which must be drived from Him. Thank you. TS Chung from Seoul, Korea.

  6. Christine H says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Hello:
    I cannot remember a time in my life that I did not believe in God. He is my dearest friend and the relationship continues to grow and evolve over the course of my life. And just like my earthly relationships, I am more engaged at some times than others. I hope anyone that has known me for more than a day has no doubt that I am a believer. Thanks for sharing your beliefs.

  7. Maria says:
    September 1, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    Anastaysia,
    I was brought up in the Catholic faith and followed that for many years, but in recent times I have turned away from that. I see so many aspects of religion generally that do not sit well with me. There is much intolerance, fear, and criticism, that is difficult to fathom. The wealth of churches also bothers me!

    As a child I often lay awake pondering the notion of there never being anything, no world, no universe, and this worried me greatly. This worry was inspired by church teachings, and unfair burdens were placed on little children.

    I don’t think one needs to be ‘churched’ in order to be Christian in practice. I see wonderful demonstrations of care, support, and empathy from friends who have no need of established religions.

    Like Jean, I too feel spiritual and blessed. And I am eternally grateful for all I have, but I am uncomfortable with church per se.

    • Anastasiya says:
      September 3, 2010 at 9:20 am

      Maria,
      I grew up in the Orthodox faith (though I have never been very religious when I was growing up.) I think the church actually stopped me from believing. Orthodox church had a lot of traditions, rules and restrictions but it never explained anything. To me there was no logic behind it and I didn’t see a reason to believe. I saw the priests driving extremely expensive cars and taking too much money for simple services. It just didn’t sit right with me. I am sure that you have similar feeling about Catholic church.

      I do believe that our personal faith and our actions can determine whether we are true Christians or not. There is no point in going to church if it is full of pretense and lies. If you can find place where you feel at peace – then this is the place for you to be.

  8. itfarmer says:
    September 9, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    Anastasiya: I smiled while reading your post – Thanks for that = )

    Fiona: I believe in Science, the Big Bang, Evolution, Quantum Physics, String Theory and anything Logical, but most of all, I believe in God. God is the only thing that makes Perfect sense.

  9. banana-bender says:
    September 21, 2010 at 3:45 am

    Здравствуйте, Анастасия!

    Эта статья великолепна! Я не могу назвать себя очень верующим человеком, но давно уже заметил, в самые трудные моменты жизни помощь приходит из самых неожиданных мест. Как будто кто-то невидимый идет рядом со мной через все жизненные трудности и помогает их преодолевать. Вы правильно пишете, “я знаю, что у меня есть силы пройти через трудности и тяготы. Если я чувствую себя слабой – я знаю, Кого я могу попросить о помощи”. Осознание того, что ты не один, что ты нужен этому миру и выполняешь какое-то своё, особое предназначение, помогает найти эти силы. Поэтому человек, живущий с верой в душе, всегда сильнее того, чьи мысли заполнены лишь земными соблазнами и желаниями.

    Большое спасибо за пост!

    Вы пишете, что жили на Украине, поэтому я думаю, что вы меня поймете, и пишу по-русски – на английском языке так точно выразить свои мысли у меня не получится, вы уж извините :)
    Михаил

    • Anastasiya says:
      September 21, 2010 at 9:28 am

      Спасибо за комментарий. Я знаю, что религия – не самая развитая область в странах бывшего СССР. Я надеюсь что отношение к религии именится рано или поздно. Люди в странах СНГ очень духовные по большей части, но часто они просто не знают куда направить эту духовность.

      Thank you for this comment. For all my readers who cannot understand Russian here is a brief translation of what was going on in this conversation.

      Banana-bender: This article is wonderful. I can’t call myself a religious person but I have noticed that I get help in the most difficult situations from the most unexpected places. As if someone invisible is walking beside me in life and helps me get through any difficulties. The understanding that you are not alone, that this world needs you and that you have your own purpose in life helps you find strength in life. A person who has faith in his/her soul is always stronger than the one whose thoughts are filled with worldly temptations and desires.

      Me: Thank you for this comment. I know that religion is not very strong in the countries of post Soviet Union. I hope that this will change sooner or later. People in those countries are generally very spiritual but they just do not know how to use that spirituality.